Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

West Kingston, Rhode Island 02892
Saturday, August 2, 2008 12:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that he was in cruise flight at 3,000 feet when he noted an airframe vibration. When he pushed the throttle full forward, the manifold pressure and engine rpm increased, and the vibration increased. He then leaned the mixture and the vibration seemed to decrease. The airplane would not climb, and started a descent. The pilot selected the nearest airport and proceeded to the airport to make a precautionary landing. The pilot initiated a visual approach to the 2,129-foot long runway. He realized the airplane was high and fast, and he then completed a go-around. He remained in closed traffic and was looking for available forced landing areas. The pilot turned on final approach again, but then he decided to abort the approach and land gear-up in a sod field. Examination of the engine assembly revealed the No. 1 cylinder exhaust valve pushrod would only move .125 inch. The cylinder exhibited heavy carbon build up on the upper and lower spark plugs. No other anomalies were noted.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's misjudgment of speed and altitude while maneuvering to land during an emergency descent. Contributing to the accident was the partial loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/2/2008
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City West Kingston
Event State RHODE ISLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02892
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 412922N
Event Location Longitude 0713714W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1155 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 55
Weather Observation Facility ID OQU
Elevation of weather observation facility 18
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 20000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.75
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24466
NTSB Notification Source FAA Boston FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Aug 5 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 27 2009 10:32AM
User who most recently changed record grol
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Boston FAA/FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N56064
NTSB Number MIA08LA159
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28R-200
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-7335345
Certified Max Gross Weight 2600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2.2
Airframe Hours 2680
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Pine Ledge Aviation LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 103 Pine Ledge Road
Aircraft Owner City Greenville
Aircraft Owner State RI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 02828
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Michael Robinson
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 103 Pine Ledge Road
Operator City Greenville
Operator State RI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 02828
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SFZ
Departure City Pawtucket
Departure State RI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 17 2008 11:14AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --